Maldives new govt says to enforce death penalty
Maldives has maintained a de facto moratorium on death penalty since 1954.
By
Fathmath Ahmed Shareef
Homeland Security Minister Ali Ihsan said on Wednesday that the government's policy is to implement the death penalty.
At a press conference at Iskandhar Koshi, Ihsan said the government of President Mohamed Muizzu has decided to implement the death penalty.
“We will look at what needs to be done and looked at in accordance with the rules and regulations,” he said, answering the question very briefly.
Currently, there are convicts in the country who meet all the procedures to be sentenced to death. They include:
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1-
Hussain Humaam - convicted of killing former MP and religious scholar Afrasheem Ali
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2-
Mohammed Nabeel - convicted of killing Abdullah Farhad, who was stabbed to death using a craft-knife blade in 2009
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3-
Ahmed Murrath - convicted of killing lawyer Ahmed Najeeb
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4-
Ibrahim Shahum Adam - convicted of killing Hassan Basheer, S. Hithadhoo, who was stabbed to death
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5-
Mohammed Niyaz - convicted of killing Ali Shiham, who was killed in 2014 in K. Thulusdhoo
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6-
Mohammed Shaifan - convicted of killing Ali Shifan, who was attacked and killed by a group in 2012
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7-
Adhuham Mohammed - convicted of killing taxi driver Gasim Hassan found murdered in 2019
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8-
Mohammed Shanoon - convicted of killing Ali Ziyadham in 2015
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9-
Mohammed Visam - convicted of killing 16-year-old Mohammed Aruham, who was killed in 2012 by a gang in Lorenzo Park
Maldives has maintained a de facto moratorium on death penalty since 1954.
Former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom declared intentions to reinstate the death penalty during his tenure, encountering legal obstacles and international opposition.
Despite his initial stance in favour of capital punishment, Yameen acknowledged public apprehensions concerning the impartiality of investigative and judicial procedures in the Maldives.
Following Yameen's tenure, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih expressed his reluctance to implement the death penalty and maintained the moratorium.
According to the death penalty rules drafted by the Yameen government:
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The death penalty can only be carried out when all procedures are legally completed
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A document to that effect shall be signed by a committee consisting of the Prosecutor General, the Chief Justice or a person designated by the Chief Justice and the Commissioner of Prisons and sent to the President
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Within three days of receipt of the document, the President must send an order to the Commissioner of Prisons to execute the convicted person
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The death penalty shall be carried out within a maximum of seven days from the receipt of the document by the Commissioner of Prisons
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The sentence shall be executed in the presence of the Commissioner of Prisons, a doctor appointed by the Corrections Department, a lawyer appointed by the Prosecutor General and three members of the public appointed by the Commissioner of Prisons
